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Psychology > Chapter 3- Biopsychology > Flashcards

Chapter 3- Biopsychology Flashcards

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1
Q

Action Potential

A

Electrical signal that moves down the neuron’s axonAd

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2
Q

Adrenal Gland

A

sits atop or kidneys and secretes hormones involved in the stress response

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3
Q

Agonist

A

Drug that mimics or strengthens the effects of a neurotransmitter

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4
Q

All-or-None

A

Phenomenon that incoming signal from another neuron is either sufficient or insufficient to reach the threshold of excitation

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5
Q

Allele

A

Specific version of a gene

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6
Q

Amygdala

A

Structure in the limbic system involved in our experience of emotion and tying emotional meaning to our memories

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7
Q

Antagonist

A

Drug that blocks or impedes the normal activity of a given neurotransmitter

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8
Q

Auditory Cortex

A

Strip of cortex in the temporal lobe that is responsible for processing auditory information

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9
Q

Autonomic Nervous System

A

Controls our internal organs and glands

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10
Q

Axon

A

Major extension of the soma

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11
Q

Biological Perspective

A

View that psychological disorders like depression and schizophrenia are associated with imbalances in one or more neurotransmitter systems

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12
Q

Broca’s Area

A

Region in the left hemisphere that is essential for language production

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13
Q

Central Nervous System (CNS)

A

Brain and spinal cord

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14
Q

Cerebellum

A

Hindbrain structure that controls our balance, coordination, movement, and motor skills, and it is thought to be important in processing some types of memory

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15
Q

Cerebral Cortex

A

Surface of the brain that is associated with our highest mental capabilities

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16
Q

Chromosome

A

Long strand of genetic information

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17
Q

Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan

A

Imaging technique in which a computer coordinates and integrates multiple x-rays of a given area

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18
Q

Corpus Callosum

A

Thick band of neural fibers connecting the brain’s two hemispheres

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19
Q

Dendrite

A

Branch-like extension of the soma that receives incoming signals from other neurons

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20
Q

Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)

A

Helix-shaped molecule made of nucleotide base pairs

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21
Q

Diabetes

A

Disease related to insufficient insulin production

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22
Q

Dominant Allele

A

Allele whose phenotype will be expressed in an individual that possesses that allele

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23
Q

Electroencephalography (EEG)

A

Recording the electrical activity of the brain via electrodes on the scalp

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24
Q

Endocrine System

A

Series of glands that produce chemical substances known as hormones

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25
Q

Epigenetics

A

Study of gene-environment interactions, such as how the same genotype leads to different phenotypes

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26
Q

Fight or Flight Response

A

Activation of the sympathetic nervous system division of the autonomic nervous system, allowing access to energy reserves and heightened sensory capacity so that we might fight off a given threat or run away to safety

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27
Q

Forebrain

A

Largest part of the brain, containing the cerebral cortex, the thalamus, and the limbic system, among other structures

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28
Q

Fraternal Twins

A

Twins who develop from two different eggs fertilized by different sperm, so their genetic material varies the same as in non-twin siblings

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29
Q

Frontal Lobe

A

Part of the cerebral cortex involved in reasoning, motor control, emotion, and language; contains motor cortex

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30
Q

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)

A

Type of MRI that shows changes in metabolic activity over time

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31
Q

Gene

A

Sequence of DNA that controls or partially controls physical characteristics

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32
Q

Genetic Environmental Correlation

A

View of gene-environment interaction that asserts our genes affect our environment, and our environment influences the expression of our genes

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33
Q

Genotype

A

Genetic makeup of an individual

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34
Q

Glial Cell

A

Nervous system cell that provides physical and metabolic support to neurons, including neuronal insulation and communication, and nutrient and water transport

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35
Q

Gonad

A

Secretes sexual hormones, which are important for successful reproduction, and mediate both sexual motivation and behavior

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36
Q

Gyrus

A

Bump or ridge on the cerebral cortex

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37
Q

Hemisphere

A

Left or right half of the brain

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38
Q

Heterozygous

A

Consisting of two different alleles

39
Q

Hindbrain

A

Division of the brain containing the medulla, pons, and cerebellum

40
Q

Hippocampus

A

Structure in the temporal lobe associated with learning and memory

41
Q

Homeostasis

A

State of equilibrium – biological conditions, such as body temperature, are maintained at optimal levels

42
Q

Homozygous

A

Consisting of two identical alleles

43
Q

Hormone

A

Chemical messenger released by endocrine glands

44
Q

Hypothalamus

A

Forebrain structure that regulates sexual motivation and behavior and a number of homeostatic processes; serves as an interface between the nervous system and the endocrine system

45
Q

Identical Twins

A

Twins that develop from the same sperm and egg

46
Q

Lateralization

A

Concept that each hemisphere of the brain is associated with specialized functions

47
Q

Limbic System

A

Collection of structures involved in processing emotion and memory

48
Q

Longitudinal Fissure

A

Deep groove in the brain’s cortex

49
Q

Magnetic Resonance Imagine (MRI)

A

Magnetic fields used to produce a picture of the tissues being imaged

50
Q

Medulla

A

Hindbrain structure that controls automated processes like breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate

51
Q

Membrane Potential

A

Difference in charge across the neuronal membrane

52
Q

Midbrain

A

Division of the brain located between the forebrain and the hindbrain; contains the reticular formation

53
Q

Motor Cortex

A

Strip of cortex involved in planned and coordinating movement

54
Q

Mutation

A

Sudden, permanent change in a gene

55
Q

Myelin Sheath

A

Fatty substance that insulates axon

56
Q

Nervous System

A

Made up of billions of neurons and controls our thoughts, responses and movements; divided into the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS)

57
Q

Neuron

A

Cells in the nervous system that act as interconnected information processors, which are essential for all of the tasks of the nervous system

58
Q

Neuroplasticity

A

Nervous system’s ability to change

59
Q

Nodes of Ranvier

A

Open spaces that are found in the myelin sheath that encases the axon

60
Q

Occipital Lobe

A

Part of the cerebral cortex associated with visual processing; contains the primary visual cortex

61
Q

Pancreas

A

Secretes hormones that regulate blood sugar

62
Q

Parasympathetic Nervous System

A

Associated with routine, day-to-day operations of the body

63
Q

Parietal Lobe

A

Part of the cerebral cortex involved in processing various sensory and perceptual information; contains the primary somatosensory cortex

64
Q

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

A

Connects the brain and spinal cord to the muscles, organs, and senses in the periphery of the body

65
Q

Phenotype

A

Individual’s inheritable physical characteristics

66
Q

Pituitary Gland

A

Secretes a number of key hormones, which regulate fluid levels in the body, and a number of messenger hormones, which direct the activity of other glands in the endocrine system

67
Q

Polygenic

A

Multiple genes affecting a given trait

68
Q

Pons

A

Hindbrain structure that connects the brain and spinal cord; involved in regulating brain activity during sleep

69
Q

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan

A

Involved injecting individuals with a mildly radioactive substance and monitoring changes in blood flow to different regions of the brain

70
Q

Prefrontal Cortex

A

Area in the frontal lobe responsible for higher-level cognitive functioning

71
Q

Psychotropic Medication

A

Drugs that treat psychiatric symptoms by restoring neurotransmitter balance

72
Q

Range of Reaction

A

Asserts our genes set the boundaries within which we can operate, and our environment interacts with the genes to determine where in that range we will fall

73
Q

Receptor

A

Protein on the cell surface where neurotransmitters attach

74
Q

Recessive Allele

A

Allele whose phenotype will be expressed only if an individual is homozygous for that allele

75
Q

Resting Potential

A

The state of readiness of a neuron membrane’s potential between signals

76
Q

Reticular Formation

A

Midbrain structure important in regulating the sleep/wake cycle, arousal, alertness, and motor activity

77
Q

Reuptake

A

Neurotransmitter is pumped back into the neuron that released it

78
Q

Semipermeable Membrane

A

Cell membrane that allows smaller molecules or molecules without an electrical charge to pass through it, while stopping larger or highly charged molecules

79
Q

Soma

A

Cell body

80
Q

Somatic Nervous System

A

Relays sensory and motor information to and from the CNS

81
Q

Somatosensory Cortex

A

Essential for processing sensory information from across the body, such as touch, tempurature, and pain

82
Q

Substantia Nigra

A

Midbrain structure where dopamine is produced; involved in control of movement

83
Q

Sulcus

A

Depressions or grooves in the cerebral cortex

84
Q

Sympathetic Nervous System

A

Involved in stress-related activities and functions

85
Q

Synaptic Cleft

A

Small gap between two neurons where communication occurs

86
Q

Synaptic Vesicle

A

Storage site for neurotransmitters

87
Q

Temporal Lobe

A

Part of cerebral cortex associated with hearing, memory, emotion, and some aspects of language; contains primary auditory cortex

88
Q

Terminal Button

A

Axon terminal containing synaptic vesicles

89
Q

Thalamus

A

Sensory relay for the brain

90
Q

Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection

A

States that organisms that are better suited for their environments will survive and reproduce compared to those that are poorly suited for their environments

91
Q

Threshold of Excitation

A

Level of charge in the membrane that causes the neuron to become active

92
Q

Thyroid

A

Secretes Hormones that regulate growth, metabolism, and appetite

93
Q

Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA)

A

Midbrain structure where dopamine is produced: associated with mood, reward, and addiction

94
Q

Wernicke’s Area

A

Important for speech comprehension

Psychology (7 decks)

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